Agri Vehicles Insurance from Greenlands

Author Topic: Nest Box Idea  (Read 2549 times)

Marches Farmer

  • Joined Dec 2012
  • Herefordshire
Nest Box Idea
« on: February 25, 2017, 03:09:36 pm »
I notice in my new BigDug catalogue (www.bigdug.co.uk) that they have 5 large stacking bins (320mmH x 495mmW x 370mmD) for £39 + VAT and carriage.  These are similar to nest boxes I've made by cutting old plastic barrels and a water butt in half (high back, low front, like a dog basket) and are popular with the hens, with nowhere for red mite to hide and simple to hose out.

Charlie1234

  • Joined Feb 2017
  • Powys
Re: Nest Box Idea
« Reply #1 on: February 25, 2017, 03:39:35 pm »
They sound ok but I prefer to keep hold of my hard earned and either go to the local tip and buy their old barrels + water butts for a couple of quid. Also I have joined freecycle and there are always people giving drums,barrels etc away for free.

Worth a try + cheaper.
5 Dogs,5 cats,40 chickens,2badger faced sheep + a full freezer

Dave C

  • Joined Aug 2014
  • Teesdale, Co Durham
Re: Nest Box Idea
« Reply #2 on: February 25, 2017, 06:44:50 pm »
Takes 10 seconds to cut the front out of s sheep feed tub.
Put the lid back on and the hens love them.

Plus if one goes broody you can pick it up and place in its own little broody coop without disturbing her.

Marches Farmer

  • Joined Dec 2012
  • Herefordshire
Re: Nest Box Idea
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2017, 09:40:12 am »
Good idea, but too small for a Jersey Giant!

Charlie1234

  • Joined Feb 2017
  • Powys
Re: Nest Box Idea
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2017, 12:14:04 pm »
My mate breeds white + black jersey giants and he only uses old tub +barrels or even old car tyres led down flat + filled with straw or shavings.
Tyre fitting places will let you take them for free around here.
5 Dogs,5 cats,40 chickens,2badger faced sheep + a full freezer

Womble

  • Joined Mar 2009
  • Stirlingshire, Central Scotland
Re: Nest Box Idea
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2017, 01:34:08 pm »
Tyre fitting places will let you take them for free around here.

Somebody gave us a vanful of old tyres a few months ago. They even delivered them free of charge and stacked them up in the gateway for us late one night. Now that's what I call service!  :-[
"All fungi are edible. Some fungi are only edible once." -Terry Pratchett

doganjo

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Qui? Moi?
    • ABERDON GUNDOGS for work and show
    • Facebook
Re: Nest Box Idea
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2017, 10:05:36 am »
Any plastic box will do - no need to cut bits out of it, hens can jump.  I use a blue recycling box with a brick in the bottom for stability, filled with hay or shredded paper.
Always have been, always will be, a WYSIWYG - black is black, white is white - no grey in my life! But I'm mellowing in my old age

Dans

  • Joined Jun 2012
  • Spalding
    • Six Oaks
    • Facebook
Re: Nest Box Idea
« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2017, 08:09:49 pm »
We've got some ikea plastic storage boxes turned on thier side that the hens seem to prefer over the fancy wooden ones we bought. Although they all seem to fight over one!

Dans
9 sheep, 24 chickens, 3 cats, a toddler and a baby on the way

www.sixoaks.co.uk

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Womble

  • Joined Mar 2009
  • Stirlingshire, Central Scotland
Re: Nest Box Idea
« Reply #8 on: February 28, 2017, 08:35:30 pm »
OK, I wasn't going to admit to this, but our hens nest in one of these:




It did get a damn good cleanout first though!  ;D
"All fungi are edible. Some fungi are only edible once." -Terry Pratchett

 

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